ILOILO – The Schools Division Office (SDO) of Iloilo province was puzzled that several students of Janiuay National Comprehensive High School in Janiuay town almost simultaneously fell ill last week.
SDO-Iloilo superintendent Dr. Ernesto F. Servillon Jr. personally inspected the school on Friday, Sept. 29, to determine the possible reasons or factors why 13 students displayed symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, including one who was rushed to the hospital due to an asthma attack.
The students were from grades 7, 8, 11, and 12.
“Sa subong puzzle pa sa aton, sa principal [Vicente Salarda] kag sa mga teachers ngaa may natabu nga pareho sadtu,” Servillon told Panay News yesterday.
After assessing the classrooms, Servillon dismissed allegations that the hot weather was behind it.
“Sa akon pamatyag, daw wala sa anggulo nga mainit didto sa ila classrooms kay manami ang ila classrooms, apat and very wide ang mga bintana and duha ang malapad nga gawang or doors kay bag-o ni ila school building,” he said.
The SDO-Iloilo and the school staff are looking at the possibility that the students may have been physically or mentally exhausted and drained after staying late at night, walking long distances, or having skipped breakfast.
Servillon also does not dismiss the presence of the “supernatural.”
“Siling ko indi man ta magkalipat nga magpalapit sa aton nga ginataha nga religious leaders like sa pari and religious pastor dira nga makabulig sa mga tawo or mga students and teachers,” he added.
But to determine the exact reason behind the incident, Servillon will send a medical team from SDO-Iloilo to Janiuay today.
“Gin-instruct ko ang medical team sang office nga kadtoan para mag-conduct sang medical examination sa aton nga mga bata agud makakuha kita sang scientific medical findings kon ano gid ginhalinan sang paglain sang pamatyag,” he said.
In the meantime, the SDO-Iloilo ordered the 13 learners take a rest and adopt alternative learning delivery modalities, like modular or online until they recover.
A day before the incident, 24 students from the same school reported similar experiences./PN
